LOSING WATER A6 AVANT 1.9TDi

[sjfedex]

Hi All,
I hope someone may be able to help....started losing water about 4 weeks ago,unable to trace where from..Put into my local German car specialist,they couldn't trace it either,but suggested putting a new expansion tank cap on..Picked it up this Tuesday,but alas today the warning light came on again,had to put about a mug full in.The temp gauge reads 90C,when warmed up,and sits there,does not go above 90c,No hoses are leaking,and not head gasket..Any other options to look at??My local garage have suggested a new water pump,but also a timing belt(not due for another 40,000 miles)...rgds Steve

 

[swarcup]

water pump would be a good place to look, you could try leaving a clean piece of card under the water pump area overnight and check for dripping in the morning.

 

[Ace_Bridger]

I had the same problem on my A4 1.9 Tdi. I was losing water at quite a rate and neither I or my garage could find the leak. Like yours, the car would come up to temp perfectly and behaved as normal except the leak. Unfortunately I finally tracked in down to a very small leak from the head gasket down by the oil pump. The car's done 180,000 miles and is quite shabby so I wasn't going to get the gasket done. Instead, believe it or not, the local Motorist Discount Centre sold me some K-Seal which goes into your expansion tank and after a long run to fully warm the car up it finds any holes and sets hard as rock. That was 3,000 miles ago and it hasn't lost any water and carries me on my 2 hour commute every day!! It work brilliantly for me...I think there's another 100,000 miles in that car!! Good luck and hopefully you haven't got the same problem as me. Cheers, Ace.

 

[sjfedex]

Thanks Ace,
Have taken car this morning to another fitter..he has some ideas..will keep your suggestion in mind and see if that works..Many Thanks..Will keep you updated...Sjfedex

 

[Ace_Bridger]

Good luck. I'll be selling my A4 very soon as I've just bought an 04 A6 1.9 TDi Avant in metallic black with cream leather interior, can't decide if it's pimp or diplomat at the moment...I guess the RS6 alloys and low-pros make it pimp!! Lovely cars.

 

[sjfedex]

Just been into another local fitter,seems the pressure in the cooling system is excessive,causing the water to escape from the expansion tank relief valve when left after a run.Fitter suggests the water pump isn't pumping properly around whole system,therefore a new water pump to be fitted.So fingers crossed and this will be the solution..
rgds Sjfedex

 

[Ace_Bridger]

That sounds much better than the head gasket, good luck.

 

[sjfedex]

Hi All,
Before I splash out money for a new Water pump (and looks like Timing Belt,although Not due for another 40,000 miles),is there a bleed screw or valve in the cooling system????My engine is a 1.9tdi engine code AJM,someone has mentioned possible Air Lock in system..Grateful replies please...Rgds Steve

 

[sjfedex]

Hi All Before i splash out for a new water pump(and timing belt..although not due for 40,000 miles)..is there a bleed screw in the cooling system???????My engine is a 1.9tdi Engine code AJM,all help greatfully recieved...rgds Steve